DOMESTIC SERVICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14981, 29 April 1909, Page 5

DOMESTIC SERVICE.

WOMEN'S PETITION TO PARLIAMENT. The. petition from women which it has been decided to present to Parliament, asking the Government to reestablish a system of free immigration from the United Kingdom of young women suitable for domestic service, is in circulation. Tho petition 6tates that it is desired to bring. under the notice of Parliament the fact that there has been for some years past a great decrease in the number of girls and single young women offering themselves for domestic service, consequent upon a disinclination on their part to follow that avocation, and this condition of things has been rendered more acute owing to the increasing demand for women workers in the manufacturing industries, as a result of the coming into operation of the preferential tariff. Though for some time past there has also been. an increasing demand for domestic workers, there has been an ever decreasing supply of girls and young women offering for such work. Never in the history of New Zealand has the want of strong, able and willing domestic workers been so pronounced as at the present time, and through this numbers of women and mothers of the dominion are daily called, upon to bear burdens almost too heavy to be borne. The petitioners state that they are of opinion that if the condition of things complained of continues unremedied a serious menace to the health of the women of New Zealand will be occasioned, a further decline in the birth-rate may result, and the physique and upbringing of succeeding generations may be detrimentally affected.' Not only is the health of the women of the dominion and their children affected or threatened by reason of the conditions obtaining, but in many cases the peace and happiness of the homo are seriously affected, and the petitioners are aware.of numbers who have already given up housekeeping by reason of the matters complained of, and they view with apprehension the future of the home life of the country. The petitioners also state that it is not the wealthy or well-to-do class who suffer the most acutely by reason of the dearth of domestic workers, as they can, by reason of their position, obtain domestic workers by holding out inducements of increased salary and other privileges and conditions which the majority of the housewives of the country find it impossible to concede. Any intention of object-

ing to the present, Standard of wages for domestic workers, or of suggesting the adoption of any measure which might directly or indirectly have the effect of reducing wages, which the petitioners regard as one of the chief attractions to the immigrant, is strongly disavowed. The petitioners are aware that settlers even slightly removed from centres of popu'ation find it in numerous cases impossible to procure that help which is essential in the case of a mother with a young family, and also emphasise the fact disclosed by the Registrar-General's returns that there were on March 31, 1908, 61,000 more"" males than females in the dominion. The petition asks that steps should immediately be taken by , the Government to establish a system of free immigration from the United Kingdom for single young women of good health and character, who are suitable for and willing to follow the calling of domestic service, and that with the view of obtaining a class of -single young women suitable to the requirements of the dominion, the Government should, establish bureaux, which should bo placed under women of experience, intimately acquainted with the condition of things obtaining, and with a proper knowledge of the description of the future colonist required. Young women, when selected, would be placed under suitable and efficient matrons immediately prior to embarkation and remain under such supervision during the voyage, iand after arrival in the dominion until suitable positions were found for them.